NorcalGma2

NorcalGma2, 16 hours ago to Bloomscrolling

New blossoms are showing up every morning now. Summer took me on a tour so we could get some photos to text to my daughter and toot to you.
#BloomScrolling

Pink rose bud covered in rain drops.
Yellow bearded iris.

NorcalGma2, 17 hours ago to random

The rose we saved from an ancient house that was to be demolished is finally happy and settled into its new spot.
It is an old-fashioned climbing rose for sure.
#Rose

Climbing rose in a corner with a gazillion buds.

NorcalGma2, 17 hours ago to random

I am feeling quiet today, mostly because I was in the emergency room all night.
Going through my thyroid debacle and fighting with the doctor's office about the bill has been pretty stressful.
Thursday night, I noticed a change in my vision. I have these floating spots of distortion. It looks like something is coming towards my eye. When the eye started to feel swollen and the white of my eye started turning red, I called the doctor, who told me to go to the ER.
My right eye is pretty unhappy.
The consensus is that this is probably stress and will resolve itself. If it doesn't, I will head to Santa Rosa for expery eye help.
Right now, I have nurse Summer keeping me close.

NorcalGma2, 1 day ago to random

Since 1969, the Kinetic Sculpture Race has been a Humboldt tradition. This year's event is this weekend. Most likely, we will find a spot somewhere on the 40-mile course to see what people are driving and floating in 2024.
The event was founded in Ferndale, CA, by a master of metal fabrication and imagination, Hobart Brown. I believe Ferndale was more relaxed and free wheeling in those days. I remember touring his workshop when I was about 12. Even then, I recognized his talent was wow.
The race is great fun with nonsense and revelry built into the rules. All entries are people powered only. They even crown a Rutabega Queen.
The race is hysterically funny, exhausting, and is a never to be forgotten event that was an integral part of the Humboldt of my youth. I took these photos at the 2011 race starting line watching with the grandkids.
For the Glory.
#Humboldt #KineticSculpture

The people powered vehicle with a standing Gnome.
A very large black pedal car with a canopy and painted on headlights.

NorcalGma2, 2 days ago to animals

Summer said that if I had the time, she would love to take a field trip. She has been pretty patient with all the medical ups and downs around here lately, so I agree she deserves a change of scenery.
My husband didn't feel up to walking in the cold wind, so we bundled him up in his recliner with a blanket, hot chocolate, day old banana chocolate chip muffins and a movie and we headed to the beach with a promise to be back soon.
We had the place to ourselves, and Summer was in heaven. She started out playing and hiding in the long grass. Well, sort of hiding.
We had a blast, and both got some much needed exercise.
#Summer #DogsOfMastodon

A golden lab hiding in tall grass.
Golden Labrador retriever standing on a gravel trail next to tall grass. Her tongue is out, and her tail is up. She is ready to get going on our walk.

NorcalGma2, 3 days ago to random

While I was cutting up apples for pie, the neighborhood quail happened by my kitchen window.
#BackyardBirds

Two California Valley quail in the grass.
Two California Valley quail in the grass.

NorcalGma2, 1 day ago to Dogs

Summer is wondering if we are going to have fun again today.
I hope we are, too.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #Dogs

NorcalGma2, 3 days ago to random

Pretty sunsets have been scarce.
This evening is an exception.
Summer, my faithful sunset spying companion was in her usual spot on the deck, ready to listen, as well as imparting dog wisdom, as appropriate.
I feel like I can use all the Summer advice I can get, so I pay serious attention.
I told her about trying for days to get Providence to correct their billing error, which, if not corrected, will cost us $500. I don't understand why they won't help me with something easy for them to take care of, even if just to make me go away.
Summer questions if the level of stress is really worth it when I am still adjusting to quitting the thyroid medicine they had me take in error besides.
She says she thought Providence was in business to help the patients. I said I used to think that, too. Clearly, that isn't their end goal these days.
It's time to write a letter to the complaint department and move on.
Summer gave me a high five. She agrees.

NorcalGma2, 3 days ago to Cats

It's a surprise photo of Byron sent by one of the grandkids just to make me smile.
It worked.
#Cats

NorcalGma2, 4 days ago to random

I am sitting here telling Summer the newest chapter in my health care saga.
My daughter felt strongly that I should get a second opinion on my thyroid diagnosis. So yesterday, I did the fasting blood tests again and gathered up my imaging results and sought out a more informed opinion from a doctor who knows me and my medical history.
This morning, that appointment happened.
It turns out that the doctor who decided that my thyroid was atrophied and put me on medication was wrong.
I am in excellent health for my age. My thyroid is small but just small normal. Because I took medicine she prescribed, I am grossly over medicated.
I was actually fine all along.
Summer offered a third opinion. She thinks I should file an official complaint.
I think Summer is right.
The silver lining is that I lost 18 pounds while I was going through this strange health odyssey.
#Summer

NorcalGma2, 7 days ago to random

I have been thinking about my mother today.
She has been gone for many years, but the Wailaki heritage she passed on to me, my kids, and grandkids is with us still.
I tell my grandsons that any benefit they receive because of their tribal affiliation their great grandmother earned.
She was a different sort of mom and not like the moms of my friends. I believe that being raised in an Indian boarding school didn't teach her mom skills. She knew a lot about cooking, cleaning, sewing, and, of course, religion because that was what they taught.
At 17, she was released from school to be a servant for a wealthy family. At nineteen, she was released from service and married my dad. This photo was taken around that time.
I wish she had different life experiences, but it looks like, in this moment, she was happy.

NorcalGma2, 7 days ago to random

Yesterday was a rough day for me.
Most setbacks make me slow down and figure out what's next, but yesterday, I kind of just stopped.
I receive my primary medical care from my preferred provider, United Indian Health, for almost everything. Unfortunately, most of our local health care providers are owned by Providence. So, if I don't have a Providence based provider, I struggle to book appointments with any of their specialists or testing facilities.
When Providence said they would drop me as a patient, if I didn't make an appointment to meet my 4th new provider in 4 years, I felt like I had to do it.
She scheduled me for lots of tests. Because the code they used was a wellness code Medicare and my insurance didn't pay. Now I have a fortune in medical bills.
I tried for hours to get the office to fix the code, but they have no interest in being helpful.
I am determined to go in person next week to fix this and will give up on Providence as a provider.

NorcalGma2, 11 days ago to random

I think I hurt Summer's feelings today.
This afternoon, the hand that got the steroid shot this morning was swelling. I decided to lay down with it elevated on a pillow, and I closed the door to be alone. I was afraid Summer would jump up on the bed and hurt me by accident.
I should know better because she never, ever hurts my husband, who is often in a fragile state.
After a few minutes, I heard a couple of big sighs just outside the door and then heard her slide down he door to lay there.
So tonight, when we watched the sun disappear behind the fog, I apologized and let her nuzzle my other hand.
She says we're good and she will be ever so careful.
#Sunset

NorcalGma2, 10 days ago to random

I haven't tooted Matt Beard art in a while. I haven't been good at keeping in touch with him lately, either. I'm definitely going to work on that.
Today, I picked one of his studio commissions from 2014. This was around the time I started noticing his work and was buying prints.
I think it's the saturated colors that drew me in at the beginning before I realized I love everything he paints.
This one is called Finding California.
Enjoy.
#MattBeard

NorcalGma2, 3 days ago to random

Since I mentioned Matt Beard already today, why not toot one of his paintings?
This scene is most likely pretty close to home.
I am pretty sure this must be a special place for someone, and they probably own this painting instead of me.
It is tiny only 12 x 12.
I love my small pieces because they brighten up small nooks and crannies in our house.
He named this 2017 scene High Tide: Empty Lot.
#MattBeard

NorcalGma2, 3 days ago to random

We were supposed to host my favorite artist Matt Beard and his wife for tea in the garden this morning but had to postpone because of the drizzle.
It will be more enjoyable and less damp to visit outside on a sunny day.
Everything is soaked, but the raindrops don't make the roses less lovely. These two blossoms are on the same bush.
Today must be, bake a pie for my daughter day, because she is awesome and I love her.
We might as well send love to all of our Mastodon friends too because we can.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Rose

A gold and pink rosebud covered with drizzle drops.

NorcalGma2, 5 days ago to Dogs

One more Summer is sooo cute photo drop for today.
She is patiently waiting for it to be her turn for dinner.
The bear still looks pretty good for being one of her first toys.
#Summer #Dogs

Golden Labrador retriever resting her head on her brown toy bear. She is looking at the camera.
Golden Labrador retriever resting her head on her brown toy bear. She is looking at the camera.

NorcalGma2, 4 days ago to random

Thank you for all of the kind words as I share the joys and challenges of our lives here in the middle of nowhere.
I do feel like I need to say that because my social media experience is limited to Mastodon, I am not savvy when it comes to the rules large and small which determine what is allowable here or might cause someone to feel offended.
I can say that I treat what I toot as if I were sharing with real-life friends. I never say anything intentionally to hurt, marginalize, or demean anyone.
There is too much meanness in the world already. I will not purposely add to it.
So thank you for grace and understanding as I navigate this place, that is, for me, a new frontier.
The photo is Dr. Summer who is giving her bear a thorough check-up. She says the bear is fit as a fiddle, just like grandma.

NorcalGma2, 5 days ago to random

Summer is a helpful gardening buddy. As soon as I get out my trowel and gloves, off she races, to find some pots.
Today, we were planting vegetables in the big half barrels and don't need pots, but you have to appreciate her enthusiasm.
#Summer

Golden Labrador retriever having fetched three pots is trying to decide the next step. The pots are on their side around her on the grass.
Golden Labrador retriever is happy with the brown resin pot she fetched. It is on its side in front of her.

NorcalGma2, 6 days ago to Dogs

As the world turns, spins, and does flip flops around us, we keep living our quiet lives, mostly just trying to survive and be happy.
Summer is surely an asset on the happy side.
We played a quick game on the stairs before breakfast.
Good morning, Mastodon.
#Summer #Dogs

Golden Labrador retriever playing with her orange ball on tan carpeted stairs.
Golden Labrador retriever playing with her orange ball on tan carpeted stairs.

NorcalGma2, 6 days ago to random

Our first dahlia blossoms for this year.
Lots more to come.
#Dahlia

NorcalGma2, 7 days ago to random

Byron and Jasper are staying out of the cold wind on this blustery day.
They look pretty cozy to me.
#Caturday